title: Blunt abdominal aortic disruption (BAAD) in shear fracture of the adult thoraco-lumbar spine: case report and literature review.
abstract: To present a rare case of association of abdominal aorta rupture and flexion-distraction fracture of thoracolumbar spine and to review the literature on this condition. In non-penetrating abdominal traumatic injuries with flexion-distraction fractures of the thoracolumbar spine, rupture of the abdominal aorta is an extremely rare occurrence but its outcome is potentially lethal. This association of skeletal and vascular lesions mainly affects young patients and involves the thoraco-lumbar junction and the portion of the aorta that lies in front of it. The authors analyze the pertinent literature and describe a case, operated in two sittings, of a traumatic lesion of the aorta attributable to a fracture of L1, focusing on mechanism of damage, diagnosis and surgical treatment. At 2-year follow-up examination, there were no neurological deficits. A review of the pertinent literature has shown that mortality can be reduced by a meticulous clinical and radiological work-up for a correct diagnosis followed by surgical repair of any damaged vessels. The possibility of performing a rapid diagnosis by means of total-body CT-scan plus CT-angiography allows repair of vascular damage, stabilization of the patient's hemodynamic conditions and, subsequently, surgical treatment of the vertebral fracture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Science and Neurosurgery, University of Rome Sapienza, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Domenicucci
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramieri
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Landi
authors.forename: Angelina Graziella
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Melone
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raco
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Speziale
mesh_terms: D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult